PAKISTAN v SRI LANKA

Toss: Sri Lanka.

Pakistan won comprehensively despite another astonishing innings by Jayasuriya. This time he reached fifty off his 17th ball, with a six over mid-wicket, to beat Simon O'Donnell's one-day international record of 18 balls, against Sri Lanka at Sharjah in 1989-90. When Kaluwitharana was bowled in the sixth over, for nought, Jayasuriya had 66. He eventually holed out for 76 from 28 balls, having hit eight fours and five sixes. With Sri Lanka 96 for two in nine overs, chasing 216, all seemed over bar the shouting. But once Jayasuriya went, the Pakistanis stepped up the pressure and seized three more quick wickets. Saqlain Mushtaq bowled admirably, but they were assisted by the fact that all the umpiring decisions seemed to go against Sri Lanka. Ata-ur-Rehman finished the game with three wickets in five balls, including Tillekeratne to a doubtful lbw just as he was getting the innings together again. Pakistan could not have dared to think of victory with 17 overs to spare after being put in and struggling against accurate off-spin. Only Ijaz Ahmed enabled them to reach 215.

Man of the Match: Saqlain Mushtaq. Man of the Series: S. T. Jayasuriya.